Texas Rangers Blog

The arms: RHP Jason Frasor, who was ineffective late in spring training, had a perfect seventh inning. … RHP Derek Lowe allowed a three-run homer by Rick Ankiel, a left-handed hitter, in the sixth. A year ago, left-handed batters hit .345 with a .525 slugging percentage against Lowe. … Starter Matt Harrison matched a career-high with nine strikeouts.

The bats: With runners at first and third and one out in the sixth, 3B Adrian Beltre lined directly to RHP Bud Norris. … In the second, the Rangers had three consecutive batters reach but did not get a runner beyond second. LF David Murphy, who reached on a walk, was thrown out trying to steal second. … In the seventh, CF Leonys Martin walked to the dugout after a swinging third strike. That allowed C Jason Castro, who had not handled the pitch, to tag Martin for the out.

The gloves: In the fifth, the Rangers had two blunders on one play. RF Nelson Cruz received an error for kicking a single by Ronny Cedeno. 2B Ian Kinsler fumbled the return throw, allowing Cedeno to reach third. Kinsler also fumbled a throw from Cruz on a triple by Justin Maxwell in the eighth. … In the first, C A.J. Pierzynski bounced on a pitch in the dirt and threw out Jose Altuve trying to advance to second. … In the second, Beltre snared a screaming liner by Jason Maxwell that was headed to the left-field corner. …

HOUSTON FOURTH: Justin Maxwell drove in two runs with a two-out triple off the left-field scoreboard. Maxwell hit .342 with runners in scoring position last season. Astros 2, Rangers 0.

HOUSTON EIGHTH: Maxwell reached on his second triple of the game, this one into the right-field corner. He scored on a two-out single by Matt Dominguez against rookie LHP Joseph Ortiz. Astros 89, Rangers 2.

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